Stock Market & Financial Investment News

Google revenue growth versus capex has declined, says CantorCantor reports that Google's revenue growth relative to its capex has declined over the last several years, while the company has spent less efficiently for growth than most of its peers. The firm supports Google's strategy of making large acquisitions, but thinks it should be more transparent on how it plans to monetize its major initiatives going forward. Cantor keeps a $630 price target and Buy rating on the shares.

Certain news agencies form advertising alliance to rival Google, others, BI saysThe Guardian, CNN International, The Financial Times , Reuters (TRI) and The Economist are forming an advertising alliance, called Pangaea, in hopes of rivaling Google (GOOG), Facebook (FB), Twitter (TWTR), and LinkedIn (LNKD), reports Business Insider UK. The Financial Times is owned by Pearson (PSO), The Economist Group is 50% owned by Pearson via The Financial Times, and CNN is owned by Time Warner (TWX). Reference Link

Safety standards for self-driving cars remain in flux, WSJ saysA 2012 California proposal to create safety standards for self-driving cars has yet to materialize because lawmakers, regulators, researchers, and government agencies do not know how to fully assess the technology, reports the Wall Street Journal. Google and other auto makers want to verify safety themselves, but law firm TroyGould and advocacy group Auto Reliability and Safety say third party testing is necessary, while a UC Berkeley transportation expert called the issue an "open question." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to test the technology "as it emerges... to inform future federal regulation," while the California DMV stated last week it's working quickly but doesn't want to release a premature ruling. Reference Link

eBay downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at Piper JaffrayPiper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster downgraded eBay (EBAY) to Underweight, the firm's sell-equivalent rating, saying competition from Google Wallet (GOOG), Apple Pay (AAPL), Facebook (FB) and Samsung will weigh on PayPal's valuation and market share over the next three years. Munster notes shares of eBay are up 12% since the beginning of February due to optimism around the PayPal spin-out. He cut his price target for shares to $49 from $55. The online marketplace and PayPal owner closed yesterday down $1.07 to $58.42.

Apple has small team working on augmented reality, says Piper JaffrayPiper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says that following talks with industry contacts, he believes Apple (AAPL) has a small team working and exploring the augmented reality space. Munster believes augmented reality has the potential to "be as profound a technology platform as the smartphone today," but admits broader consumer adoption is likely 10 years away. He views Apple's involvement in the space as an indication the company is preparing for the next evolution of computing. Munster has an Overweight rating on Apple with a $160 price target. He describes augmented reality as the "overlay of digital information on the physical world," with Google (GOOG) Glass given as an example.